§ 32. Mr. Nelsonasked the Secretary of State for Industry, when he expects to make a recommendation regarding collaboration with United States manufacturers on future passenger aircraft development; and whether he is considering the possibility of British Aerospace undertaking collaborative programmes with more than one United States aircraft manufacturer.
§ 33. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Industry what discussions he has had with American and European aerospace organisations about collaborative ventures with British aerospace companies.
§ Mr. VarleyI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Arnold) earlier today.
§ 40. Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the total public sector expenditure disbursed to the British aerospace industry between January 1977 and January 1978.
§ Mr. KaufmanIn 1977 my Department provided £45 million to British Aerospace—£27 million in public dividend capital and £18 million in loans from the National Loans Fund—to enable BAe to repay loans to one of the parents of the vesting companies. In addition, the NEB provided £30 million to Rolls-Royce, divided 70:30 between equity capital and loan.
Details of other public expenditure on the aerospace industry are not collected on a calendar year basis. Final figures for such expenditure on civil aircraft and aeroengine research, development and production, and space programmes in 1977–78 are not yet available, but forecast net expenditure on aerospace innovation in the year ended 31st March 1978, 364W published in Cmnd. 7049, was £90 million at 1977 survey prices. These figures exclude expenditure on military aerospace projects which are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.